Printing machine



June 2, 1931. J, cA so 1,808,45i

PRINTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 20. 1929 2 SheetS- Sheet l June 2, 1931. J. A. CARLS ON PRINTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 20, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June '2, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT orrlcr.

{ORAN A. CARLSON, OF ASH'LAND, MASSACZIUSlI-TTS, ASSIGNQR T LUCY IF.- PBAT'L,

ASHLAND, MASSACHUSETTS PRINTING MACHIIIE Application filed November 20, 1929. Serial No. 408,446.

Patent No. 1,288,191, and which in general This invention relates to a printing machine of the character shown and described in UnitedStates Patent No. 1,288,191, in which a continuous strip or web of paper or like material is intermittently fed between co-operating printing members, one of which is reciprocated with relation to the other.

The object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved printing machine in which provision is made for distributing the ink over the inking rollers in a novel and superior manner adapted to insure most eflicient distribution of the ink under all conditions of use.

With this object in view and such others as may hereinafter appear, theinvention consists in the printing machine and in the various structures, arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the printing machine;

Fig. 2, a front elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

' Fig. 3, an enlarged sectional detail showing the improved ink-distributing mechanism; I

Fig. 4, a sectional detail on the line 44, Fig. '3, and

Fig. 5, an enlarged detail to be referred to.

In the machine forming the subject-matter of United States Patent No. 1,288,191 above referred to, the printing operation is performed upon a continuous strip or web of paper or like material a, which is drawn from a roll I), and intermittently fed between cooperating printing elements 10, 12 by which it has printed upon it any desired characters according to the particular use to which the label or tag is to be put, which latter is formed by severing the printed section of'the web from the continuous or unprinted web or strip.

Except as to particular features to be pointed out, the present machine may in its general construction and mode of operation comprise the printing machine illustrated in said maybe described as follows:

The printing member 12 may comprise a chase 16 for type 17, the chase being detachably secured to'the lower end of a plunger 18 which is movable in astationary cylinder 19 suitablyattached to uprights 20, 21 erected upon the base 14 and forming part of the framework of the machine.

The plunger 18 is arranged to be reciprocated during the operation of the machine by suitable mechanism shown as including an actuating cam 22 upon a counter-shaft'24 driven from the main driving shaft 26 of the machine through a link chain 23 which runs around sprockets29, 30 upon the counter shaft and driving shaft respectively. The cam is provided with a cam groove 32 in which rides a cam roll 33 mounted upon a bar 34 slidable in guideways 36 attached to the upright 20; Connection-is made between the bar 24 and the plunger 18 through a link 38 and lever 39 and link 1'39'as shown.

As set forth in Patent No. 1,288,191 above referred to, ink-is supplied to the type 17 by eachof a plurality" of ink-distributing rollers 134 operatively supported by link chains 40 arranged to run over sprockets 41, asillustratedin Figs. 1 and 2, so that the chains assume a general triangular shape, and in the operation of the machine as fully set forth in said patent, the chains are moved to cause one of the inkdistributing rollers 134 to pass by the type at each cycle of operation of the machine ink. V v

Provision'is made for effecting the distribution of the ink uniformly over the circum ference of the inking rollers, by novel and improved mechanism designed to be reliable and positive in operation and to eliminate tendencies which may have been experienced in connection with the distribution of the ink and thus supply the type with by the mechanism illustrated in the aforeover upon and be supported by the bearings 46 for the counter-shaft 24 as shown.

The disk 44 is preferably of a diameter substantially equal to the length of the inkdistributing rollers 134, and provision is made for positively moving the disk inorder that the ink which has been applied by the operator to either an inking roller 134 or to the disk 44 may be uniformly distributed over the entire circumference of the roller during the passage of the roller over and in contact with the disk.

As herein shown, the disk 44 is arranged to be rotated at each cycle of operation of the machine through a connection from the plunger-actuating mechanism. 'As shown in detail in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the disk 44 is loosely mounted upon a supporting pivot or shaft 48, preferably of a materially larger diameter than the corresponding shaftin the aforesaid Patent No. 1,288,191, and which has .a bearing in a circular hole in the supporting sheet metal strip 45, as illustrated in detail in Fig. 5, to permit rotation of the disk.

The end of the supporting pivot or shaft 48 is arranged to support a ratchet-wheel 50 preferably secured upon said-shaft by the cooperation of a locking nut 52 and a locking pin 53 received within a recess in the ratchetwheel and which extends through the disk and supportas illustrated in Fig. 5.

In this manner the ratchet-wheel'is supported upon theunderside of the metal strip 45and also is connected to the disk, so that asthe ratchet-wheel is progressively moved ateach cycle of operation of the machine the disk is caused to rotate. J Y 1 As herein shown-,provision is made for actuating the ratchet-wheelby a pawl or dog 54 formed upon a bar 56 guided by a bracket 58 upon the underside of the sheet. metalsupporting piece 45 and also guided andcontrolled in its movements by a pin 60 projecting from the underside of the supporting piece 45 and received within a slot 62 formed in the end of the bar 56. i The top-64 of the bar is flattened and arranged to be engaged by a pin 66 projecting laterally from the lever 39 by which the plunger 18 is actuated, so that upon each descent of the plunger 18, the bar 56 is depressed and the downward movement of the bar is utilized through the pawl54 to pro gressively advance the ratchet-wheel 50 the distance of one tooth and in this manner the ink-distributing disk 44.

The bar 56 is returned to its upper or initial position by a spring 68 connected to the upper end of the bar and connected to a hook 69 upon the supporting piece 45, as illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4.

From the description thus far it will be observed that provision is made for insuring the positive rotation of the disk 44under all conditions of use. The operating mechanism for rotating the disk is protected from exposure to the inking rollers and consequently difficulties which have heretofore been experienced with the construction illustrated in Patent No. 1,288,191 from this cause are avoided. V

The present invention avoids the liability of interruption in the rotation of the distributing disk by the disk becoming bent, a condition which in the prior construction of machine involved the disengagement of the actuating member from the teeth which have heretofore been formed upon the periphery of the disk itself.

The present construction is more rugged and durable and is such as to insure positive and efiicient distributionof the ink.

WVhile the preferred embodiment of the invention has been hereinillustrated and described, it will be understood that the'invention may be embodied in other forms within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed'is:

1. In a machine of the character described, in combination, co-operating printing members, one of which reciprocates with respect to the other, an inking i device, an endless carrier upon which the inking device is mounted, a metal supportingmember'over which the inking device-and carrier travel, an ink-distributing 'diskrotatably mounted upon the outer side ofthe supporting member in a position to contact with the inking device as the latter is moved thereover by the carrier, a ratchet-wheel connected to the ink-distributing disk and mounted upon'the underside of the supporting member,apawl -co-operating with the ratchet-wheel, and

means operatively connected with the reciprocatory printing member for actuatingthe pawl. V j

2. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a pair of co-operating printing members, one of which is arranged to reciprocate with respect to the other, an inking device, an endless carrier arranged to travel around .the reciprocatory printing member and to cause the inking device to pass under the same, means for, reciprocating said printing member including a cam, connections between the cam and printing member including a lever, an ink-distributing disk supported to contact with the inking device during its travel between successive applications of ink to the printing member, .a ratchet-wheel connected with the rotatable disk, a pawl co-operating with the ratchetwheel and adapted to be actuated by said lever at each reciprocation of the printing member, and means for operatively connecting the lever and pawl.

3. In a machine 'of the character described, in combination, co-operating printing memhers, one of which is reciprocat'ory, an endless carrier supported in a general triangular form, an inking device mounted upon the carrier to be moved between the printing members, a metal supporting member over which the inking device passes in its movement between successive applications of ink to the printing mechanism, an ink-distributing member rotatably mounted upon said supporting member and over which the inking device is caused to pass, a ratchet-Wheel connected with the disk to rotate therewith and mounted upon the underside of the supporting member, and connections between the reciprocatory printing member and the ratchet-wheel for rotating the disk to eflect the distribution of ink over the inking device. 4. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a printing mechanism having members, mechanism for reciprocating one of said printing members including a plunger and a lever for reciprocating said plunger, an inking roll movable between said printing members for applying ink toone of them, an ink-distributing disk with which said inking roll makes contact in its travel, and mechanism actuated by said lever for efiecting rotation of said distributing disk when said plunger is moved by said lever to effect the printing. 5. In a machine of the character described, in combination, cooperating printing members, one of which is reciprocatory, an endless carrier supported in a general triangular form, an inking device mounted upon the carrier to be moved between the printing members, a metal supporting member over which the inking device passes in its move ment between successive applications of ink to the printing mechanism, an ink-distributing member rotatably mounted upon said supporting member and over which the inking device is caused to pass, a ratchet wheel connected with the ink-distributing member to rotate therewith and mounted upon the underside of the supporting member, a cam for reciprocating the printing member, connections between the cam and the printing member including a lever provided with a pin, a pawl cooperating with the ratchet wheel adapted to be engaged by the pin upon actuation of the lever to effect intermittent rotation of the ink distributing member at each reciprocation of the printing member.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

J OHAN A. GARLSON. 

